Howard took his troops to Exeter for training since there were two bridges located close together. He tried to anticipate every possibility and trained his men accordingly. Howard decided they had to take out the pillbox and move a platoon across the bridge before firing any weapons. Brotheridge would lead the platoon across the bridge and the rest of the men from the #1 glider would capture the pillbox. Glider #2's men would clear the banks and glider #3's men would reinforce Brotheridge. The other three gliders would do the same at the river bridge. Howard developed the plan and trained his men for it.

Company D moved to Tarrant Rushton at the end of May. Howard told them what their mission was and allowed them to study the photos and available intelligence. The men could study the material whenever...